UNIVALVES_— MUREX. 131 
MUREX.Rock or TRUMPET-SHELL. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVI. 
Div. I. — Fam.1. Fig. 2. M. tribulus. 
Dry. IiL—Fam. 2. Fig. 8. M. rota. 
Diy. IV.—Fam.1. Fig. 5. M. rana. 
Div. VI.—Fig. 4. M. fimbriatus. 
Div. 1X.--Fam. 1. Fig. 1. M. babylonius- 
Drv. XII.—Fig. 6. M. asper. 
Shell univalve, spiral, rough, with membranaceous sutures; aper- 
ture oval, ending tn an entire, straight, or slightly ascending 
canal. 
THE most prominent character which distinguishes 
the species of this genus from those of the two preced- 
ing genera, consists in the beak being almost invariably 
straight, and very much produced, sometimes turning 
a little upwards. 
The Murices are shells of irregular form, arising from 
their surfaces bemg usually armed with spines, knobs, 
strize, or foliations. The shells of the first division have 
the beak considerably produced, and are distinguished 
from those of the second by the spines with which their 
surfaces are armed; the most remarkable species is 
the M. tribulus, of which there are two varieties; (the 
more common being called the Thorny-Woodcock, and 
the rarer Venus’s Comb;) the latter is one of the most 
elegant shells of the genus. When perfect its exte- 
rior is most beautifully adorned with regular rows of 
thin and delicate spines. 
K 2 
